"I used

to create my own holly and pine garland, and by the time I was done, I

was too tired and broke to have anybody over," says Ali Dickerson,

an interior colorist from Charlotte, Vermont. "Now I'm impressed

with the quality and ease of using a variety of lights and faux decorations

so I can spend more time with my family."

If you want

some greenery for the holidays, Alpine Trees, with natural wood trunks

and snowy branches, can be used to decorate an entry or corner of a room.

The trees are sold separately and come in three different sizes, 3, 4

and 5 feet. The trees can be used indoors or out, and several could be

used to light up a path. If you've always debated on purchasing an artificial

tree, the exclusive Artificial Blue Spruce with Lights will fool any visitor.

Here are some

other easy, festive ideas from the experts at Gardner's Supply:

Decorating

with unusual lights on mantles and windows can also add holiday sparkle

to your home. Magic Poinsettia Lights consist of velvety red poinsettias

that sparkle with hundreds of tiny lights made of fiber-optic sprays that

are safe and cool-to-the-touch.

Pinecone Lights

are especially appealing on a mantle providing a golden glow, enhanced

Star Lights was inspired by the Moravian stars carried by 19th century

missionaries as a symbol of hope. Rattan Star Lights are a blend of folk

art with modern lighting. Each star is natural rattan woven onto a durable

wire frame, with two sparkling lights inside.

Snowflake Lights

can be enjoyed from both sides of the window, each 15-inch star holds

36 sparkling lights. Snowflake Luminaries can be used outdoors or in,

and unlike other luminaries, the sleeve lifts off the candle base so you

don't need to worry about burning your fingers when you light the candle.

Each is made of shiny galvanized steel so they won't blow away, tip over

or rust.

Nothing symbolizes

warmth and welcome like the new exclusive Electric Candle. It's a huge

improvement over the department store plastic lighted candles. It has

a built-in timer that lights for 8 hours and then repeats itself every

24 hours.

Garlands are

a simple way to take existing fixtures such as lamps, shelves and mantles

and give a home a holiday feeling. Faux Winterberry Garland and Faux Holly

Garland make a superb accent for the mantel or to frame a doorway. The

Faux Holly Garland is deceivingly lifelike with sprays of two-tone berries

and detailed fabric leaves. Both look good year after year without fading.

Spread the

spirit of the season with J-O-Y spelled out as an unusual alternative

to a traditional wreath. Faux berries, wild apples, ferns and leaves --

all woven onto a natural grapevine frame -- look fresh year after year.

The Balsam

Oil and Diffuser looks like an ornament, but it will fill the air with

the aroma of freshly cut balsam fir. No one will know that the petite

terra cotta urn on your tree holds a few drops of essential balsam oil.

For more decorating

ideas, please visit www.gardeners.com or call (800) 955-3370 for a free

catalog.

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